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OAU at 50: Akinkugbe, Omole charge alumni to support institution

December 18, 2012 by Motunrayo Aboderin

OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole | credits: spurmag.com

Prof. Olu Akinkugbe(CON) has called on the alumni of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, to take interest in supporting the university, observing that the sustainability of the institution’s development is in their hands.

Akinkugbe, who made this known during the institution’s 50th anniversary celebration in Lagos on Wednesday, said that the university must be supported by its past students.

“Now that you are alumni, there is big work for you to do. Government underfunding of the university system is not peculiar to Nigeria, which is why most of the top universities of the world now rely on their alumni for a substantial development of their infrastructure.

“And tonight, I have a great message. OAU has a unique position among all universities. One of its faculties has produced the only noble laureate in literature in Africa and if things had worked out well in this country, all the faculties would have competed well with other universities across the globe.”

The chief host at the event and OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, corroborated Akinkugbe on the need for alumni’s support.

He said, “Tonight in the life of the university is very momentous and significant especially for me as the 10th VC of the university. We are here to celebrate a university that has contributed greatly not only to the development of Nigeria but also to the world at large. OAU remains the only university in Africa.

“In all universities in the world, the alumni play a very important role in development and growth. We are gathered here tonight for this cause. I want you to remember that you have become what you are today, a governor, an industrialist, academic don, administrator and others because OAU trained you and gave you the opportunity. So, I implore you to support the university.

“Some of our proposed projects include procurement of teaching and research equipment costing N600m, construction of lecture theatre complex for first year students, laboratory buildings and faculty of science dean’s office building to cost N300m, construction of two 500-seater lecture theatres at the permanent site of environmental design and management building to cost N450m, construction of Senate Building (jubilee house), N350m and special intervention of sports facilities for NUGA games hosting and further development of the stadium complex to cost N1.1bn among others,” he said.

Reacting to the issue of supporting the university, the publisher of Ovation magazine, Bashorun Dele Momodu, also an alumus, pledged his support for OAU, formerly known as the University of Ife.

He said, “I’m a very proud alumnus of Ife. It is high time we began to show interest in where we are coming from because if you don’t see to the development of the place you are coming from, you may not get to where you are going to. And so it is a very worthy cause. It is not just a time for us to have sober reflection, it is also a time for us to sit back and deliberate on how we can give back to a university that has given us so much.

“The university has made us what we are today. I can tell you that I spent most of my childhood days at Ife, my primary, secondary school education were in Ife and I did my first degree and second degree there also. So, I have an emotional attachment to the university and I’m happy for everybody and also happy to be among these great Nigerians who were also trained in Ife.”

In the same vein, Governor of Ondo State, Dr.Olusegun Mimiko, said, “I am highly honoured to be here tonight. I am ever so grateful to have passed through the four walls of the great University of Ife. I congratulate the VC, former VCs and the alumni of the university here tonight. The university has been a great idea and we shall continue to support her.”

I am proud to be an alumnus of ife..to me oau is d centre of d world where things happen..there wil neva be another Great Ife..

ogboju-ode

I’m happy the event highlighted the need for more alumni’s support. As an undergraduate, I’ve always wondered why there seems to be no correlation between the success and greatness of the alumni of Ife and developments witnessed in this institution of ours. Taking a look at the personalities across the country in virtually all spheres of life that had, at one time or the other,had one or two things to do with the university, one cannot but agree that the alumni’s best can still immensely be bested. May God help you. Having said that, let me say I’m forverer delighted I was able to make it to this distinguished Oba Awon University. If there’s any other university aside from Great Ife, it has to be other universities. Thank you.